McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1988

the production of critical texts has too often been neglected in the analysis of objects of popular culture. I have set out in my thesis to demonstrate how a diachronic reading of all the criticism of a given cultural object, taken in its hegemonic whole, can be read as a necessary cultural appendage and as a socio-historic reflection of the object. [...]  Lire la suite

The reaction of sulfate with six podzolic horizons of the Southern Laurentians (Quebec) was investigated using batch reaction techniques. It was demonstrated that sulfate sorption increased with decreasing solution pH to a maximum sorption capacity at around pH 4.0; below this pH retention decreased. This drop in sorption capacity was related to the partial dissolution of Al surface coatings. Indeed, the amount of native sulfate and the maximum sorption during the experiment were positively correlated (R$ sp2$ = 0.982, 0.800) with the oxalate extractable Al content of these forested soils. In all six horizons, the increase in sulfate sorption as …  Lire la suite

Mateescu, Dan F.  Lire la suite

This thesis reports on an ethnographic study of communicative interaction between young Inuit children and their caregivers. Data were derived from three sources: 80 hours of videotape of four children (aged 1,0-1,8 years at the outset) and their families, 20 ethnographic interviews of mothers, and participant observation notes. Themes emerged about the specific accommodations that Inuit caregivers made in their communication with young children. Child-centered accommodations included: (a) two special registers of affectionate talk, (b) specialized vocabulary, (c) making language more understandable to children, and (d) excluding children from adult conversations. Situation-centered accommodations instructed children through teasing and repetition routines. …  Lire la suite

The propagation of electromagnetic fields is described by the vector Helmholtz equation. Finite element analysis of the vector Helmholtz equation involves complications such as spurious modes that do not arise in the scalar Helmholtz equation. Both driven vector field problems as well as vector eigenvalue problems may be corrupted by these divergent, nonphysical fields. Additionally, boundary and interface conditions in vector field problems are more complex than in scalar problems. In this thesis, the cause of spurious modes is analyzed and a condition called the inclusion condition is shown to eliminate the spurious modes. Mixed order covariant projection finite elements …  Lire la suite

In this thesis a general method for the formulation of the dynamical equations of general $N$-axis, serial-type robotic manipulators of otherwise arbitrary architecture, with rigid and flexible links, is presented. The dynamic simulation of this type of manipulator is also included. The two different methods of formulation discussed here are the hybrid Newton-Euler (NE)/Euler-Lagrange (EL) formulation for the study of flexible-link manipulators and the NE formulation, for the study of rigid-link manipulators. The hybrid NE/EL formulation lends itself to a systematic and conceptually straightforward formulation for flexible-link manipulators, as opposed to the NE formulation which, in this case, will be …  Lire la suite

This pilot study was designed to collect and analyze a broad range of descriptive data on out-patient pedophiles. Eighteen males with at least one legally charged pedophilic offense (excluding incest) participated in the research. Seven of the subjects sexually molested a male child (homosexual pedophiles) and eleven subjects sexually molested a female child (heterosexual pedophiles). Subjects were administered the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). Subjects and their therapists also participated in a structured interview which sought data on psycho-social and offense variables. Analysis of the MCMI results found that when profile configurations were compared, …  Lire la suite

This dissertation explores the concept of revelation in the writings of Ahmad Khan, Azad, and Mawdudi Using as its framework the development of modern Western thought on revelation, it raises questions related to religious epistemology and finds that the Muslims studied offer three interpretations of revelation: (1) part mystico-subjective and part natural intuitive, (2) part traditional and part mystico-subjective, and (3) traditional. The thesis concludes that out of a preoccupation with apologetics, all three authors failed to develop a coherent theory of revelation: Mawdudi did not understand modern problems surrounding revelation and hence did not feel the need for a …  Lire la suite

The design of drainage systems is becoming more important as competitive uses of our water resources increase. The design of such systems is time consuming and costly. The drafting aspects of the design are repetitive tasks and subject to human errors. A computer can be used for the drafting purposes so that engineers can concentrate on other aspects of the design. Therefore, a new computer package has been developed. The package uses the drafting ability of the MACDRAIN software and the engineering judgments of the DRAINMOD model. The package is capable of optimizing drainage plans for corn fields with the …  Lire la suite

The thin-layer flow-cell incorporated an array of 32 gold strip electrodes in a serial configuration opposite a platinum counter electrode. The cell body was made of Macor glass ceramic. A photolithographic procedure for etching the Macor and a simple method of applying a gold ink was devised. Resistive feedback current-to-voltage converters independently controlled the potential difference between the electrodes of the array and the common counter electrode. A microcomputer and a customized high speed data acquisition interface recorded the current response of each electrode. An expression for the faradaic response of a single electrode within a rectangular flow channel was …  Lire la suite

Kuchel, Otto (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

This study concerns Paleo-Indian behaviour and culture history in the central Great Lakes region. More than 15 sites and numerous loci associated with Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene societies in southwestern Ontario are reported. These are organized into archaeological complexes and their interpretation is synthesized into a broader understanding of early occupations in the Northeast. Complexes are defined by projectile point typology and substantiated by other technological traits and patterns of lithic raw material utilization. Early (fluted point associated) Paleo-Indian complexes are, in suggested chronological order, Gainey, Parkhill, and Crowfield. Late Paleo-Indian complexes are Holcombe and Madina. All date between …  Lire la suite

Set in i le Jesus, just north of the island of Montreal, this thesis has a two-fold objective: to study the problem of the growth of agricultural production and to analyse the structure and the evolution of Canadian rural society in the eighteenth century. The study proceeds in five stages. In order to determine what factors govern agricultural production, prevailing economic circumstances, land distribution and the system of production are examined in succession. Next, the inquiry turns to inheritance customs and peasant estates, with the aim of measuring the economic hierarchy within the peasantry, determining its nature and explaining its …  Lire la suite

The present industrial practice of ac to dc rectification uses diode or thyristor bridges which are harmonic polluters and poor power factor sources. The research of this thesis is directed towards exploiting fast, gate-turn-off semiconductor switching devices and PWM techniques in order to develop a new generation of rectifiers with nearly sinusoidal current waveforms operating at unity or even leading power factor. The scope of the investigation is restricted to the Boost rectifier (as opposed to Buck) which has bilateral power transfer capability through bidirectional current flow in the dc link. The stand-alone, Boost Type PWM Voltage Regulated Rectifier was …  Lire la suite

Joseph Breitbach began publishing literature in the late twenties. He came to occupy a specific place in the literary period generally called New Objectivity. The goal of this thesis is to define that place more closely. The first chapter analyzes Breitbach's early stories, whose themes are based on the new social reality of his time. The focus is on the organized workers of the far left (the proletarians), as well as the growing class of small clerks known as the petite bourgeoisie. Breitbach, a department store manager, crafted his fictional characters from this milieu and portrayed both their social problems …  Lire la suite

Yong, R. N. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite